Engine-starting device.



Patentd May 29, I900,

G. S. STRONG.

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

(Application filed Sept. 1, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

FIGS.

(No Model.)

H H W U I Patented May 29, I900.-

G. S. STRONG.

ENGINE'STARTING DEVICE.

(Application filed Sept. 1, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE s. STRONG, or New YORK, n. Y., ASSIGNOR To Jonn r. MURPHY,-

QF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,434, dated ma 29, 1906.

A plication filed September 1, 1899.

T aZZ whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, GEORGE S. STRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Engine-Starting Devices, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to a device for rotating the driving-shaft of an engine independently of the parts of the engine normally acting on the shaft, so as to start the engine in operation. Particularly my invention is adapted for use in connection with gas-engines.

My invention embodies certain features of and is in effect an improvement upon my former invention described and claimed in myapplication for apatent,Serial No. 715,696, filed May 5, 1899, my object in the present case being to provide an improved starting mechanism more positive and reliable than that described in my former patent, and particularly one which is adapted to be driven by power.

Reference being now had to the drawings in which my invention is illustrated, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a gas-engine, showing a general position in which I have found it convenient to apply my device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the end of the shaft and my starting mechanism connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken as on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

A indicates the casin g of the engine proper. (Not shown in detail.)

A indicates a bearing'formed in the easing; a, a steel liner in the bearing.

B is a bracket bolted to the casing A and having formed through its end a cylinder B, which surrounds the shaft and supports a cylindrical clutch-ring (indicated at b) beyond the cylindrical passage B. A cylindrical chamber 13 is formed in the bracket B and surrounded by a flange B as indicated.

0 indicates the driving-shaft of the engine,

. which is shown as centrally perforated to give passage to the fluid for the purposes described Serial No, 729,178. (No model.)

in my application for a patent, Serial No. 698,623, filed December 8, 1898. The perforation is indicated at C, enlarged,'as indicated at 0 toward the outer end of the shaft, 5 5

again enlarged, as indicated at C and internally threaded, as indicated at C the outer projecting end of the shaft being also externally threaded, as indicated at C Fitting in the enlarged cylindrical passage C is the perforated cylinder D, having a cylindrical enlargement, as indicated at D, which fits into the cavity 0 and an outer extending part D which projects beyond the end of the shafg and is externally threaded, as indicated at D i E is an externally-threaded cylinder which fits over the end D of the cylinder and screws into the threaded cavity 0 of the shaft, E indicating its head.

F is a nut screwing on the threaded end 0 of the shaft and serving to hold in place the cylindrical plate J.

G indicates roller-bearings supporting the shaft and working between the hard-steel liner a and the similar liner 0, attached to the shaft.

H is a cylinder fitting over and keyed to the shaft 0 and having its outer end flanged, as

.indicated at H, and resting against the annular plate J.

I indicates governing mechanism supported on the ring H, but which, forming no part of my present invention, need not be described.

K is a bracket-castin g secured to the flange B of the bracket B and having formed in it the cylindrical chamber K, which supplements and forms an inclosed cylindrical chamber with the portion B of the bracket B. There is also formed in the bracket K the 0 passage indicated at K K opening inward through the threaded passage K into which screws the threaded nut D of the cylindrical tube D D, L indicating a jam-nut for holding it in place.

K indicates a threaded opening through the head of the bracket K, which is closed by the screw-plug K.

M is aclntch-ring secured to the shaft 0 and having formed in it a series of angular re- 10o cesses M, inclined in one direction only, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This clutch-rim g ex tends through the cylinder B and also through the cylindrical chamber B K, as shown in Fig. 2.

O and O, &c., and O O, &c., are rollers, two resting in each of the inclined cavities M of the clutch-ring M, as shown in Fig. 2, one set lying beneath the clutch-ring b and the other set lying beneath the clutch N, to which is secured the worm-wheel N, working in the chamber B K.

P is a casing for the worm, preferably made in two parts, as shown, one part P being attached to the bracket 13 and the other part 1? attached to the bracket K.

Q is the worm-shaft, preferably working in roller-bearings, as indicated at Q", and having secured to it the worm Q, in engagement with the worm-wheel N.

When it is desired to start the engine, the shaft Q is rotated, turning the worm Q and through it the worm-wheel N and clutch-rim g N, secured to it, which is journaled on the recessed clutch-ring M and which when turned in one direction causes the rollers O'to move up on the inclines M and tightly clutch the members M and N together, so that the shaft 0 will rotate with the clutch. This rotation of the engine-shaft is continued until the engine goes into operation, turning the shaft with greater rapidity than it is being turned by means of the worm, the consequence of which is that the clutch-ring N moves backward with respect to the clutch-ringM, causing the rollers to move backward toward the bottom of the inclines and permitting the clutch-rings to move independently of each other.

A particular merit of my device is that it enables the engine to be started with an even steady movement of the shaft and at the same time provides in addition an automatic clutch which prevents at all times a backward movement of the shaft, because when the wormwheel N is stationary itislocked in position by the worm, and if the shaft moves backward it is at once clutched to the member N and held stationary, because a backward movement of the shaft has obviously the same tendency to engage the two members of the clutch together as a forward movement of the clutchring M. As an additional precaution against the backward movement of the shaft, I still employ the permanent clutch formed between the member M and the cl utch-ring b, which serves the same function as described with reference to this construction in my former patent.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the shaft of an engine a clutch arranged to engage with the shaft when moved in one direction and to disengage when the movement is in the other direction, a worm-wheel secured to a clutch member and a worm in engagement with said wheel for driving it and through the clutch the shaft of the engine.

2. In combination with the shaft of an engine, a clutch arranged to engage with the shaft when moved in one direction and to disengage when the movemcnt is in the other direction, a worm-wheel secured to a clutch member, a worm in engagement with said wheel for driving it and through the clutch the shaft of the engine and a casing inclosing the WOIlll-WhGGl and worm.

3. In combination with the shaft of an engine, a clutch-ring, as M, surrounding and secured to said shaft and having inclines M sloping in one direction, a clutch-ring, as N, fitting and turning on ring M, rollers 0' sit uated in the inclines M, a worm-wheel N secured to ring N,-a Worm Q in engagement with said worm-wheel and means, as shaft Q, for actuating the worm.

GEORGE S. STRONG.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. F. MYERS, D. STEWART. 

